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Irish Recuits

dazzledavey36
dazzledavey36
in Melbourne Demons

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Does anyone know why we've completely gone off the side in recruiting Irish players? If I recall, the last Irish player we had on our list was Nick Walsh back in 2002.

We were one of the first clubs to pioneer this with success and i think it's a little sad we've decided not to pursue this ever since.

 

Edited by dazzledavey36

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    https://www.afl.com.au/news/1003332

    "FORMER Gold Coast rookie Luke Towey is keen to reignite his AFL career after heading back to Ireland. 
    Towey was a category B rookie for the Suns before he was delisted at the end of 2021 after two COVID-interrupted seasons and list cuts across the competition.
    The speedy 24-year-old went back to Ireland to play Gaelic football, but is working with leading player agent Colin Young to explore his options back in Australia on an AFL list.
    With the AFL looking to expand its footprint again with Irish recruits, Towey said he was keen to explore another chance at the level. "

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    We've missed a trick here. Recruitment has been very good domestically as we know but there is plenty of talent to be tapped in Ireland. We should start sending recruiters over again. 

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    we should have some good contacts with all the Irish girls playing for our AFLW team. must be around 5 now

    surely they have brothers??!

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    37 minutes ago, FarNorthernD said:

    And the US. There can’t be a lack of athletic 6’ 10” centres who miss out on the NBA. 

    I for one hope we never get desperate enough to recruit a basketball player who's never touched a footy before

    And before someone mentions Cox, he's so overrated ... 

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    1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    Does anyone know why we've completely gone off the side in recruiting Irish players? If I recall, the last Irish player we had on our list was Nick Walsh back in 2002.

    We were one of the first clubs to pioneer this with success and i think it's a little sad we've decided not to pursue this ever since.

     

    Bit of a bad call here, the AFLW team has been very active and successful in this space.

     

     

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    Goldie and the Mackin sisters...

    ...maybe Goody needs to have a good talk with Mick.

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    We did very well with the late Jim Stynes and Sean Wight but since then most Irish recruits over the past 4 decades have just been average footballers with a couple rated very good like Zac Toohey. There is far more easily developed talent over here. No gold mine over there.

    Edited by John Crow Batty

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    20 minutes ago, Smokey said:

    I for one hope we never get desperate enough to recruit a basketball player who's never touched a footy before

    And before someone mentions Cox, he's so overrated ... 

    Forget the white guys.
    Try a couple black guys with some fast twitch fibres.
    Cause white men can't jump .... Or run.

    Edited by Fork 'em

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    • Author
    8 minutes ago, D Rev said:

    Bit of a bad call here, the AFLW team has been very active and successful in this space.

     

     

    I don't really follow the AFLW as much, so I did miss that and certainly wasn't my intention of excluding the AFLW with their set up with the Irish set up.

    Hopefully we can follow suit.

     

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    2 minutes ago, Fork 'em said:

     

    Forget the white guys.
    Try a couple black guys with some fast twitch fibres.

    *African Americans. 

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    9 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    *African Americans. 

    With pronouns.

     

    Edited by Fork 'em

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    10 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    I don't really follow the AFLW as much, so I did miss that and certainly wasn't my intention of excluding the AFLW with their set up with the Irish set up.

    Hopefully we can follow suit.

     

    Goldie has been great for us, a real heart and soul type player.

    Blaithin Mackin was a revelation in her first year as a premiership player last year and her sister Aimee joins us this year.

    Mick Stinear has been pivotal in making it happen, taking the time to visit the girls and their families in Ireland.

    I hope the men can follow suit, there's some great talent to tap into.

    The Stynes legacy must mean something.

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    If you're going to grow Ireland you probably need a feeder academy that identifies the talent by age 12. The kids can keep playing Gaelic football but use the off season to develop Australian Rules skills.

    Have no idea how you'd fund it or how you could get exclusivity.

    Probably too expensive for us but as a JV between the wealthier clubs (Pies and Eagles for example) it might work

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    59 minutes ago, rjay said:

    Goldie has been great for us, a real heart and soul type player.

    Blaithin Mackin was a revelation in her first year as a premiership player last year and her sister Aimee joins us this year.

    Mick Stinear has been pivotal in making it happen, taking the time to visit the girls and their families in Ireland.

    I hope the men can follow suit, there's some great talent to tap into.

    The Stynes legacy must mean something.

    Then I'm not sure why the men can't follow suit? 

    We the first original pioneers and we've got the capacity there in terms of funding etc.

    Good on Mick and his team.

     

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    I agree with Dazzle - we were pioneers in the field with the likes of Jimmy Stynes and Sean Wight back in the 80s but dropped out a decade or so ago (I was told) because of the expense of the exercise of drafting the best of the Irish male players. Surely, we have the $ today?

    It’s a question worth asking JT when he next appears on the DL podcast why the club isn’t having another crack at this area of recruitment.

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    21 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

    If you're going to grow Ireland you probably need a feeder academy that identifies the talent by age 12. The kids can keep playing Gaelic football but use the off season to develop Australian Rules skills.

    Have no idea how you'd fund it or how you could get exclusivity.

    Probably too expensive for us but as a JV between the wealthier clubs (Pies and Eagles for example) it might work

    I really like this idea.  Would be interesting to see if you could deploy it in some of the Rugby playing countries in Europe too; Italy, France, Wales?  Not sure who you'd get coming through, but it'd be good for growing the game (at least). 

    Loving this thread!

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    Especially when most Irish players kick the footy well. Something we need more of. 

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    I reckon the Cats have been able to get the best Irish recruits due to 1) having Zac Toohey and 2) being the quietest city with an AFL team (most like home).

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    9 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

    I reckon the Cats have been able to get the best Irish recruits due to 1) having Zac Toohey and 2) being the quietest city with an AFL team (most like home).

    Ever been in Adelaide after 8pm?

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    Anybody know if any clubs have ever looked at SE Asia for recruits? 

    Seems like a massive pool of athletes to draw from that wouldn’t have to travel to the other side of the world to find success.
     

    More asking as I’m curious than put forward that we do it. 

     

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    it’s interesting that irish players in general have all been excellent kicks of the footy. you could argue the skilful players are recruited but i think it’s more than that. 

    it’s baffling to me that AFL can’t at least kick at 80% on their non preferred and a lot of players are described as average kicks after playing their entire lives. 

    room for improvement in the junior coaching i reckon 

    *disclaimer. never player footy so what do i know 

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    8 minutes ago, DubDee said:

    it’s interesting that irish players in general have all been excellent kicks of the footy. you could argue the skilful players are recruited but i think it’s more than that. 

    it’s baffling to me that AFL can’t at least kick at 80% on their non preferred and a lot of players are described as average kicks after playing their entire lives. 

    room for improvement in the junior coaching i reckon 

    *disclaimer. never player footy so what do i know 

    Dunno if things have changed nowadays but I played Footy from about 9 years old until I was 21, never once was I coached on my kicking. In fact I don’t remember any conversations with any player about their technique. 
     

    Edit: and now that I think of it, the variation in kicking technique was a lot.

    Edited by BoBo

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    What about next door in New Zealand? Rugby players can already catch, kick and tackle. You would think a rugby background provided a good base to transition to AFL. 

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